Indigenous history

Acknowledgment of Country

We, in the spirit of Reconciliation, acknowledge the Wurundjeri People of the Kulin Nation as the traditional custodians of the land now known as the City of Maroondah, where Indigenous Australians have performed age-old ceremonies.

We acknowledge and respect their unique ability to care for Country and their deep spiritual connection to it. We pay our respects to their Elders, past, present and emerging.

First Nations History

Before European colonisation, the Wurundjeri Woiwurrung People of the Kulin Nation were the traditional custodians of the land now known as the City of Maroondah for more than 35,000 years. The Wurundjeri People have a deep spiritual connection to the land and a unique ability to care for Country.

The Kulin Nation refers to an alliance of five tribes (language groups) who are the Traditional Owners and lived across a geographic area that encompasses Melbourne and its outer regions. Their collective territory extends around Port Phillip and Western Port, up into the Great Dividing Range and the Loddon and Goulburn River valleys. The five Kulin Nation language groups are:

  • Boonwurrung (Boon-wur-rung)
  • Dja Dja Wurrung (Jar-Jar-Wur-rung)
  • Taungurung (Tung-ger-rung)
  • Wathaurung (Wath-er-rung)
  • Woiwurrung (Woy-wur-rung), commonly known as Wurundjeri.

The language groups were connected through shared moieties (divided groups) – the Bunjil (wedge-tailed eagle) and Waa (crow). Bunjil is the creation spirit of the Kulin and Waa the protector of the waterways. 

The Wurundjeri People take their name from the Woiwurrung language word ‘wurun’ meaning the Manna Gum (Eucalyptus viminalis) which is common along ‘Birrarung’ (Yarra River), and ‘djeri‘, the grub which is found in or near the tree.

The traditional Country of the Wurundjeri Woiwurrung People are defined by natural and environmental features, significantly by water. The direction of water flow provides a clear indication of the shape of Country and reflects the cultural understanding of the Wurundjeri People as the “people of the Birrarung” (Yarra River). The Birrarung and the waters flowing into it are considered to be the traditional Country of the Wurundjeri Woiwurrung People.

For Wurundjeri Woiwurrung People, the natural world is also a cultural world with cultural and landscape values essential to their identity and wellbeing. They have a strong interest in preserving both cultural objects and natural landscapes of cultural importance.

When the City of Maroondah was created through an amalgamation the former Cities of Ringwood and Croydon in December 1994, the State government chose the name Maroondah because the Maroondah Highway is the major road linking the east and west of the municipality. 'Maroondah' is an Aboriginal word that means 'throwing' and 'Maroon' means 'leaves'. 

For more information on Wurundjeri Woiwurrung People, please see the Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung Cultural Heritage Aboriginal Corporation website.

For more information on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders, please visit the following websites:

https://aiatsis.gov.au/

https://www.aboriginalvictoria.vic.gov.au/

https://koorieheritagetrust.com.au/

https://www.reconciliationvic.org.au/

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